What I want to see more in 2016

I have been reading Teen/YA novels for a few years now and I notice that some issues are repeating in one book to an other. So here are some topics that I would like to see more in books in 2016. (Don't get me wrong, I still love this genre and I always will)

- Developing romance. Oh well, the famous "insta-love". We all read the "Our eyes just met and we both knew we were in love". It is seriously not realistic and certainly not a teen's reality. When you are a teenager, you know everyone around you from school since you go to the same school in your neighbourhood with the same people and you hang out with them since you were in kindergarten. How do you meet new people at 15? In my case, when I was 15, if I saw a cute boy walking down the street, 1) I would be too shy to talk to him, 2) Even if I did, Facebook wasn't invented and neither did text messages and 3) I would have been so scared to tell my mom I met a guy on the streets, one who apparently doesn't go to my school and doesn't know anyone I know and somehow, and that we're now in love. Really? I think love is a feeling that develops with time, when you get to know the other person and when you can trust him or her. If you think you are in love after two minutes, I'll tell you right now, it's not love, it's sexual attraction. I would like to read more about two person that meet and they get to know each other at a nice rhythm. No need to declare some love in the next five minutes. That goes for teens too.

- Good parenting. Am I the only one here who have good parents? I mean, I know that half of married couples end up divorced, but still. I didn't count, but I think EVERY young adults or teen books I read in my whole life, at least one parent out of two was either absent, an addict, dead, too controlling or not at all. Where are the good parents? I can't believe they are all bad! If so, every human being between the age of 15 and 20 are the good ones and every adults are bad. I guess that old generation got messed up along the way (I knew the hippies couldn't be trusted!). No, seriously. I believe that a story can be really interesting if there are family values and that they both care about their child.

- Teen being a teen. It happened a few times while I was reading a book that I would just close it and ask myself: "Wait, how old is she again? No, impossible, she cannot be sixteen." Yes, I know there are kids with big issues doing adult stuff at a pretty young age. (Maybe if their parents were around more... Ha!) I can't believe a sixteen year old girl would be so heartbroken because her boyfriend left her that she would end up at a frat house party drinking alcohol for the first time, doing drugs and lose her virginity to a douche and decides she won't ever love again. Christ, you're SIXTEEN! Stop! Worry about stuff your age! Have a cat fight with your best friend or be afraid you won't pass your Math exam because you didn't study enough. Do not go out and steal a car because you were in pain. It's not cool. If I want to read a book about the life of an adult, I will do that, but right now, I want to read the life of an ACTUAL teenager.

- You're pretty and you know it, so act like it. Again, so often I see a strong, independent young woman who is so confident and is not scared to show everyone that she is. And somehow, there's finally a boy who tells her she is beautiful and she seems surprised. How is that even possible? Don't tell me you don't look at yourself in the mirror from time to time? And please, if you are pretty, guys look at you and you know it. They are guys. Guys are not shy to look. If you are hot, then be the girl who knows it. I am tired of reading about this girl who thinks no boy will ever find her beautiful. Again, you're SIXTEEN! I think I would like to read about a strong female character that doesn't let anything get to her and that she thinks she is good looking enough for some guy. Or to read about a shy girl that has actual teen problems like excess weight or acne. (No, the hottest boy from the school won't fall in love with her!) 

- An average and nice and happy boy. She somehow can only fall in love with the tall, sexy, brown eyes and brown hair, six pack body, rude, immature, controlling, and brooding bad boy. What is that anyway? I've been looking for one of these kinds for the past four years, but they somehow never showed. Maybe it's because they don't exist. THEY DON'T EXIST. And you know what? You don't want them to exist. You really want the kind of guy that would treat you like shit for a month and then tell you he just went through something terrible and that's why he acted this way that whole time? No, uh, uh. They also don't spend the whole day inside their room listening to depressing music while reading The Great Gatsby and they somehow happen the be the sexiest boy in the universe, but he doesn't know it or he doesn't care to be. No seventeen year old do that. At that age, all they think about is sex. And video games. Can we read about a decent looking boy that looks like an actual teenager (no abs, no facial hair, with acne, etc.) and that acts like an actual teenager (no teen/manwhore)?

But of course, if it wasn't for the good old clichés, these novels wouldn't probably have half as much success. I believe that what we want in books is not what we can have in reality. I bet if half of the issues that can happen within 300 pages were actually happening to me, I would be crazy by now. I agree with the fact that there would be no story if not for the clichés. Maybe the list above is a bit drastic, but I think there are other vivid readers like me that would be interested in reading a book that fit better their reality. What do you think?

M.

Review: Maybe Not (a novella) - Colleen Hoover

Pages: 120

Release Date: November 24, 2014

Publisher: Atria Books

Get a copy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

SYNOPSIS

Colleen Hoover, the New York Times bestselling author of Maybe Someday, brilliantly brings to life the story of the hilarious and charismatic Warren in this new novella.

When Warren has the opportunity to live with a female roommate, he instantly agrees. It could be an exciting change.

Or maybe not.

Especially when that roommate is the cold and seemingly calculating Bridgette. Tensions run high and tempers flare as the two can hardly stand to be in the same room together. But Warren has a theory about Bridgette: anyone who can hate with that much passion should also have the capability to love with that much passion. And he wants to be the one to test this theory.

Will Bridgette find it in herself to warm her heart to Warren and finally learn to love?

Maybe.

Maybe not.

MY REVIEW

Here is another review by Colleen Hoover (I know I'm obsessed with her). This short novel is the story of Warren and Bridgette, who both were characters in Maybe Someday. It is hard for me to review this book since it's really short and the development was kind of predictable. Although, what I can point out is how hilarious both Bridgette and Warren are. She is rude, mean, stubborn and cold. She is also fragile, shy, scared and soft. I loved everything about her. Warren is really a dude. That's the word for him. A dude with a soft heart.

"Why does she have to be so mean? Mean girls are my weakness, and I think I just figured that out." - Warren

I think this quote best describes both Warren and Bridgette. The more she is mean to him, the more they are attracted from each other. The more she tries to stay away from him, the weakest he is. Whenever Bridgette opens a door, Warren makes sure it never closes again. 

This novella was simple and sweet. I can't however put it on the same level as Hoover's other books, but it wraps up well the story of Maybe Someday. I recommend to read it, it takes two hours and it will make you smile for the rest of the day.

Thumbs up !

Everything and nothing

Hi everyone!

I know I have briefly introduced myself in the About Me section but I feel like I didn't go deep enough about who I really am and I think it's important that you guys know a little bit more about me. Through this blog I share my thoughts and my opinions, I believe you want to know what my background is.

First of all, my first language is French. English is my second language. Maybe you have spotted a few flaws about my writing (wait to hear my English), I try to do my best to be the most coherent and clear as possible. I grew up in a French neighbourhood,  I did and still am doing all my education in French, so basically, you have to want to learn English to actually be good.

When I was 12, music started to be really important to me. I discovered bands that their music was strictly in English. I became curious about the lyrics and I was obsessed to know what every word meant. 

My passion for books came a little later. My dad is a book collector. There are over a thousand First Edition books in my house, pretty much all Mystery books, but mostly, they are only in English. Whenever he wanted to go to bookstores, he would bring me and I've always loved it. When I was 16, we went to this bookstore chain (here it's called Indigo, it looks like a B&N). Half books are in French and the other half in English. I went to the back of the store and there it was; hundreds of copies of the same books lying on tables. For the first time, I was curious about a book. It was called Twilight. I grabbed it, opened the first page and I read the first two sentences. I just stood there and smiled. Why? Not because it seemed like a good book (it was), but because I was able to read in English and actually understand every. single. word. I took it, paid the 11.99 CAN and made myself and my dad happy. At that moment, it's where it all started.

I don't know why, but I will remember this day for the rest of my life because books brought me something that was missing; through pages and words, I feel alive.

Thanks for reading, for any requests, questions or just to talk, feel free to write me an email at throughpagesandwords@gmail.com or to follow me on Bloglovin'

Take care!

M.

Review: More Than This (book 1) - Jay McLean

Book 1 in the More Than series
Pages: 275
Publisher: Skyscape
Release date: July 10, 2013 (ebook) & January 13, 2015 (paperback)
Get a copy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

SYNOPSIS

When Mikayla imagined her prom night, she envisioned a fairy-tale evening full of romance. So when betrayal and tragedy come in quick succession, Mikayla is completely destroyed. Suddenly, everything she loved and everyone she relied on are tragically, irrevocably gone.

Jake, a handsome boy she just met, happens to witness her loss. With no one to turn to, Mikayla is forced to depend on this near stranger and his family, and he in turn is determined to take care of her. But Mikayla—thrust into adulthood with no one to guide her—is desperate to contain her grief and hide what she considers to be her weakness. Mikayla and Jake both want more, but despite their growing closeness and intense chemistry, she tries to keep her distance and protect her heart. As he does everything in his power to win her trust, Mikayla must choose between remaining alone and safe or letting love in.

MY REVIEW

It was my first try at a Jay McLean novel so I had no idea what to expect. When I read the synopsis first, I thought it pretty much ressembles everything I've read before. When Mikayla loses everything, it really means everything and I felt disappointed at this point in the book. However, McLean turned this tragedy into something really beautiful and captivating, which made me continue my reading. I enjoyed both Mikayla and Jake characters as well as Jake's friends. They are easy to relate to, well described and funny. Also, the book gives a great perspective to younger readers on how to become an adult and take responsibility in the grown up world.

RATINGS 

Plot: 7/10 - The general story is pretty common and the classic elements of a romance and young adult novel are all there. There are no surprises whatsoever apart from the beginning of the book. It's still very well written and captivating.

Structure: 8/10 - It seems pretty common in YA novels these days (maybe in other genres too, but I am not familiar with anything else) to have different POVs. I think it makes a book more interesting you can follow two stories at once and you can actually know what the other person thinks, not just the narrator. I think it gives more flexibility to the writer. Jay McLean used two different POVs, but they were all too short (1 or 2 paragraphs each, sometimes a full page but nothing more) so it made it difficult at times to follow.

Characters: 9/10 - The characters are well written and well described. I really liked the Logan character (book 2 and 3 are about him) and I would have liked more description of him. Mikayla is a strong young woman and she proves that we can all survive a tragedy. Jake is absolutely selfless and even though he saw Kayla at her worst, he still loves her no matter what. I call that endless love.

Ending: 8/10 - There's not much to say about the ending, it's a classic "they lived happily forever", but that's to expect in a YA novel. There is no suspense for the second book, since it doesn't revolve around them, but around Logan and Amanda.

Thumbs up!

OVERALL RATING: 8/10

Review: November 9 by Colleen Hoover

Pages: 320
Publisher: Atria Books
Release date: November 10, 2015
Edition: Paperback & ebook
Get a copy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

SYNOPSIS

Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day before her scheduled cross-country move. Their untimely attraction leads them to spend Fallon’s last day in L.A. together, and her eventful life becomes the creative inspiration Ben has always sought for his novel. Over time and amidst the various relationships and tribulations of their own separate lives, they continue to meet on the same date every year. Until one day Fallon becomes unsure if Ben has been telling her the truth or fabricating a perfect reality for the sake of the ultimate plot twist.

Can Ben’s relationship with Fallon—and simultaneously his novel—be considered a love story if it ends in heartbreak?

MY REVIEW

This book caught me off guard. Colleen Hoover returns with this heartbreaking, yet inviting story of two young and talented people that, despite time and distance, continue to stay strong. She, once again, succeeded to create an unexpected plot twist. She does this thing where she intertwines every relationship in the book in an unpredictable way. The characters are well written and easy to connect with. Fallon has self-esteem issues which makes it difficult for her to open up to someone. She builds this ideal life in her head and buries herself in romance books to make sure she won't experience anything less than what she reads. However, her relationship with Ben is exactly what romance novels advocate: cliff-hanging, insta-love and book-worthy kisses. Ben is genuinely funny, sensitive and selfless. This novel is nothing less than I expected from Colleen Hoover.

RATINGS

Plot: 9/10 - Even though this is another love story with a happy ending, there is a twist that brings something very unique and it kept me curious until the very last page. 

Structure: 10/10 - I really enjoyed the different POVs, they were clear and easy to follow. Also, this book has a very special structure since every chapter is a different November 9 spread over 5 years. Even though we knew what both characters were thinking throughout the book, it was impossible to actually guess how the story would turn out, which makes it very interesting.

Characters: 9/10 - I really loved Fallon's character because I could relate to her in so many ways. She had real flaws, like actual physical flaws and it seems to me that we rarely see this kind of issues in other YA novels. Ben, is really sweet and is the kind of boyfriend every girl wants to have. 

Ending: 9/10 - We all want a happy ending, right? However in this novel, I was kind of used to the idea that a couple doesn't have to end up together so the book would have a happy ending. For once, it would have been okay to me if they ended up happy, but not necessarily together.

Thumbs up!

OVERALL RATING: 9.3/10